Cage for antifriction-bearings.



I H. HESS. CAGE FOR ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS,

APPLICATION HLED'DEC. 10.1912.

. Patented Aug. 31; 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. mass. CAGE FOR ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10; 1912. 7 1,151,589, I Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

-: snares rarnn 1 Erica.

HENRY nnssor rninannnrnre, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORVTO HESS-BRIGHT manurnc'runme COMPANY, A conrcnarron or DELAWARE.

CAGE FOR ANTIFRIC'IION-B EARINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915..

Application filed December 10, 1912. Serial No. 735,985.

' State of'Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Cages for. Antifriction-Bearings, of which the tollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to antifriction bearings, and has reference more particularly to the spacing cage which is usually employed lil such bearings to maintain the rolling elements in spaced relations.

In certain types of antifriction bearings now known in the, trade as double rowbearings, two series of rolling elements are employed between inner and outer casing members provided respectively with traclrs on which the rolling elements travel, and it is to cages for use in bearings of this type that my invention is particularly applicable.

- A cage-for double row bearings should be of a construction which will not only effect a separation of theindividual rolling elements of the respective series from each other, but will also effect the separation of the two series of rolling elements from each other, and while possessing the necessary strength to properly. guidethe rolling ele-- ments, the cage should at the same time possess a certain degree of flexibility in the direction of the travel of the rolling elements,

so as not to offer obstruction to the free,

travel of the same.

In accordance with my invention I have produced a cage fulfilling these require ments, which comprises outer rings, an intermediate ring, and a series of connecting members connected with the outer rings and having shoulders which engage and give support to the intermediate ring. As a re- 7 sult of this construction, there are produced in the cage, two series of ball pockets or sockets, the individual pockets of' the respective series being separated from each other by the connecting members, and the two series of pockets being separated from each other by the intermediate ring. V

In the accompanying, drawings I have shown my improved cage applied to a ball bearing in which the inner casing member is provided with a filling opening extending therethrough' between the two balltracks by a slight forcing of the same over the surface between the side of the filling opening and the'balltracks. In constructions of this character it sometimes happens that a ball will escape from its raceway and lodge in the filling opening. This objectionable actron Wlll be prevented by the intermediate ring of my improved cage, which ring is of such form and is so located that when the cage is inoperative position in the bearing, the ring will extend across the filling openmg and in this manner will form a guard against the accidental passage of a ball into the opening. v

While my improved cage thus possesses a special advantage in connection with a bearm of the particular type above described, it

limited to such use, but is applicable to bearings of other detailed form; and-it will be understood that my invention isnot limited to any particular form or construction of the parts except inso far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a planview of a ball bearing equipped with my improved cage, parts of the bearing and cage being broken away to expose other parts to View. F 2 is an elevation, with the outer casing member of the bearing brol-n away to expose the cage and balls therein. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the linea+-a of Figwl; Fig. 4 is a section on the line bb of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of portions of the outer and intermediate rings of the cage, and one of Referring to the drawings,my improved cage comprises two outer rings 1-1, preferably channeled in their outer faces, an intermediate ring 2; and a' series of transverse connecting members 3; whereby two series ofball pockets 4, 4, etc, 5, 5, etc, are

formed respectively on opposite sides of the intermediate ring and between the connectin members. I ach of the connecting members consists of two plates 6 and 7 as shown more particularlyin Fig. 6, which plates are reduced at one end for substantially half their length, leaving on' plate 6, shoulders GKand' 6 and leaving on plate 7 shoulders "I and 7 at the junction of the reduced portions of the plates with their widened portiops. The widened portion of plate 6 is provided with a strengthening flange 6 extending laterally from the edge of the same, and the widened portion of the other plate 7 is likewise provided with a strengthening flange 7, projecting laterally from its edge, while at their opposite ends the plates are provided with lips, a lip 6 on the wide end of plate'6, a lip 6 on its reduced end, a lip 7 on the wide end of plate :7, and a lip 7 on the reduced end of, said plate, shoulders 6 and 7 being thus formed on the respective plates where the lips adjoin the widened portions of the plates. The plates thus formed are counterparts of each other and constitute conjoint ly a connecting member for maintaining the three rings fixedly in spaced relations, as shown. To adapt the rin'gs of the cage to be. connected by these members, the outer rings are provided at intervals with holes 88, etc.,' adaptedto receive the lips on the ends of the plates; while the intermediate ring isprovided at corresponding -.intervals with holes 9- 9, etc, to receive the reduced portions of the plates, the latter extending face to face with the reduced portion of one plate opposite, the widened portion of the other plate, and with thelips on the ends of the plates bent back against the outer faces of the outer 'rings'in the channels thereof. In this posi tion of the parts the shoulders 6 and 6" and the shoulders 7 and 7" on the respec tive plates will bear respectively on opposite sides of the intermediate ring, and will thereby fixedly and rigidly support the same in itsproper spaced relation midway between and parallel with the outer rings. In the assemblage of the parts of the cage in connection with. a bearing of the type illustrated, the intermediate ring is first slipped over the inner-casing member of the bearing, the ring being split as at A, to permit this to be bent, and ,after the two series of balls have been assembled in their respective raceways, the plates of a connecting member are passed at their reduced ends in opposite directions through the openings in the intermediate ring, so that these plates willextend flatly side by'side with their shoulders 6, 6 and 7 7", engaging respectively' the opposite sides of the ring, the lateral flange of one plate overl ing the edge of the reduced portion of t e otherplate, and the lips 6 and 7' at one end of the plate abutting flatly against each other, with the lips 6 and Wet the opposite ends of the plates likewise abutting against each other. After all of the connecting members have been thus applied to the intermediate ring, the two outerrings are inserted in the hearing from opposite sides, and the openings in the rings passed over the abutting lips on the opposite ends of the plates of the connecting members; and after the rings have been forced tightly toward each other to firmly seat the engaging parts, the

end lips are spread apart and bent back on i the outer sides of the outer rings in the channels thereof, with the result. that the rings will be fixedly and firmly connected together in spaced relations. When thus assembled, the outer rings will have a hearing at their inner sides againstthe respective shoulders 6 and 7, while the intermediate ring will have a hearing at its opposite sides against the shoulders 7 and 7 and 6 and 6 at the junction of the reduced and widened portions of the plates. a result of this construction, the cage as a whole will possess great stiffness and rigidity in the direction of its axis, while in the direction of the travel of the balls in the, bearing, the cage will possess a certain-degree of flexibility.

The intermediate ring may be continuous throughout, instead of split, as shown, a

split ring being desirable only in the event of the cage being employed in connection wvit-h a bearing of the particular type illustrated.

It will be understood, therefore, that my invention is not limited in this connection to the employment of a split ring, but is intended to cover, as well, a ring circumferentially continuous.

Having thus described my Iclaim is:

l. A cage for anti-friction bearings, said cage comprising outer rings, an intermediate ring, and connecting members connected with the outer rings said connecting meminvention, what hers being provided with shoulders engagconsisting each of two plates reduced at one end to form a shoulder on each plate, said plates being connected with the outer rings 10 and an intermediate ring, and having a series of ball pockets on each side of said lat- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.- I

ter ring; and two "series of balls in said pockets, the said cage being so disposed relative to the casing members of the bearing that the intermediate ring will extend 15 across said filling opening. In testimon' whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 Witnesses:

FRANCES TRACY, C. S. BUTLER;

two witnesses.

HENRY HESS.

Commissioner of Patents, 

